And the bad side of the whole thing

Amendments in Florida. Arizona and California all passed, enshrining bigotry and hatred into these states’ constitution

And that is what it has done. Denying the right to marry is a horrendous thing. It undermines and devalues relationships. It devalues and disrespects people. It denies protections that are essential and NON-IMITABLE. This law has seriously harmed thousands upon thousands of people for no benefit. I have said on numerous occasions just how essential the right to marry was, so there’s no point in repeating it other than to say that denying it was a truly evil thing to do.

But it is more than that, though that is horrendous, this has done a truly awful things: It has given legitimacy to homophobia.

The constitutions of 3 states, the people of 3 states, have just said homophobia is ok. Homophobia isn’t bad. Homophobia is acceptable. Homophobia is officially sanctioned. These states and the people who voted for these vile measures in these states have said that homophobia is good and right and should be enshrined in law.

I’ve said before that homophobia is one of the few “acceptable” prejudices. It’s one of the prejudices you can wear openly and even drip with venom and it still not be considered rude or outside of civilised behaviour . These 3 states have not only confirmed that but they have given it the stamp of approval. These states have given a green light to prejudice and waved the flag for bigotry.

Homophobia is ok to these states. And that in turn says that being gay is NOT ok. These states have enshrined in their constitutions that gay people are less. That gay people are not worthy of the same rights or respect or consideration. In these states, it is official, so official they had to enshrine it in their most fundamental documents: Gay People are Inferior.

And that’s a great message to send, isn’t it?


I can feel the rage about these passing - feel and share it. But it needs to be directed appropriately. A lot of the anger has been aimed at ethnic minorities who voted disproportionately for the Californian amendment. Yes, the fact that a large number of black* people who voted in Cali voted for proposition 8 is certain an issue for concern and belongs on the list of Shit that Needs Sorting but to blame it on an entire race is beyond stupid - as well as prejudiced. (Apart from anything else, logistically black people don't have the numbers to have been a deciding factor on the vote - don't let prejudice and a convenient scape goat colour outrage)

Believe me, nothing would please the right wing bigots more than for gay people and black people to fight amongst ourselves rather than mobilising together against a common enemy that wants to screw us both over.


Now that being said, being furious is an acceptable response - so long as its directed properly. By all means be enraged at every last one of the people who voted for this. They are prejudiced bigots without exception. They voted to hurt gay people. They voted to confirm that gay people are beneath them. They don’t have an excuse for what they did - there isn’t a good enough excuse. And no, hiding bigotry behind a Bible verse isn’t a good excuse - it just makes the people you’re attacking angry at you AND the religion you’re using to beat them down.

In short, if you voted yes on any of these amendments, you are a vile bigot and people have every right to be disgusted and enraged by your sorry, vile self.



*I've never been happy with the term "African-American" 1) because I'm not American and no-one has ever coined the term "African-British" so it sounds vaguely silly to me and 2) because I fail to see why you should have to qualify someone's nationality because of their race. A black American is an American just as much and without the need for dilution as any other American. I don't see it as being beneficial to use a label that implies outsideness or a diversion of interests or a mixing of nationalities.

And lastly an appeal

...to Christians and other members of Organised Religions where the leaders seem to be are bigoted arseholes.

You need to speak up. Loudly and in great numbers. Not just for gay people but for yourselves and your churches and for your god. The vocal arseholes who are trying to speak for you paint the picture of a deity that is hateful, disgusting and bigoted. If you think your god deserves better then you need to drown these people out.

More than that, the LEADERS of your churches are chanting the same tunes. These are not fringe elements. These are not loose canons. These are not some crazed loud mouths. The leaders of your churches are singing in the homophobic choir. They are saying that gay people are less, that we are inferior, that we are not due respect or rights.
These Churches (and I am using churches to refer to the organisation rather than individual believers) have put an endless amount of effort into homophobia. Whether it’s as large as the Catholic Church’s international crusade and medieval outlook towards anything gay or as internal as the Anglican Church’s conniption fits over gay bishops, whether it’s as open as the Southern Baptist’s unrestrained loathing or as local as the Church of Latter Day Saint’s unforgivable donation to the misleading and dishonest pro-Proposition 8 campaign in California, these are just some examples for the common homophobia that unites the majority of Christian churches (and other organised religions are most certainly no better, just lack the same degree of influence in the western world).

Together they represent the biggest force of homophobia there is. They are a POWERHOUSE of homophobia and really by far the major reason why homophobia is still considered acceptable. I do not believe for a second homophobia would be so entrenched, so powerful and so ACCEPTABLE if there weren't so many cheerleaders behind pulpits and in pews. I do not believe homophobic violence, homophobic discrimination and homophobic political campaigns would have the same momentum, power, severity or frequency if it were for the weight of so many churches pushing them forwards. In short, if it weren't for the energy the churches plough into homophobia, my life and the life of gay people throughout the western world would be a hell of a lot better, safer, happier and more secure.

These churches are hurting us. They are actively attacking us. They are trying (and succeeding in too many cases) to destroy our lives.

And, my poor, decent, good, respectful, honest and kind Christian friends - they are speaking for you. And they are speaking for your god.

If you are better than this or you believe your god is better than this then you need to speak up. You need to be heard. You need to make it clear that the church authorities are wrong, that you don’t agree with them, that, in this, you don’t think they speak for god or are doing your god’s work. Not for me, not for gay people - but for yourselves, because you and your faith don’t deserve to have this label of hatred applied to you

I’m feeling and have been feeling a lot of hate coming from Christian churches - because there is a lot of hate from these churches directed at me and mine. I do not believe in or follow your god - but I do believe that your faith deserves better than to be a vehicle for prejudice. I do believe that your faith deserves better than to become watchword for prejudice and hate. I do believe your faith is better than the way the churches are painting it


***All of this can most definitely be applied to Islam (in spades and over and over for that matter) and, to a lesser extent, Judaism - but they do not have the power and influence in western society that Christianity has